“If he doesn’t have the courage to vote his conscience, that’s Konopnicki’s problem, not mine.” — Sen. Russell Pearce, on Rep. Bill Konopnicki’s comments that he had problems with S1070, but felt obligated to vote for it nonetheless.

A package of tax cuts aimed at spurring economic growth has become a political landmine for Gov. Jan Brewer, who is facing a tough primary challenge from several fellow Republicans unhappy with her fiscal decisions.

A bill that aims to spur job growth through tax cuts to businesses and tax credits for companies that create new high-wage jobs has cleared one hurdle in the Senate, but its ultimate fate is still uncertain.

The budget that was mostly approved by lawmakers on March 11 will cut $1.2 billion in state spending, but it includes a contingency plan that will reduce spending by almost double that amount if voters reject a sales tax increase that will be on the ballot May 18.

Lawmakers are tossing around a budget plan that would shutter the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections, put counties in charge of incarcerating juveniles and shift some of the cost to municipalities.

UPDATE: 4:35 p.m.
Senate President Bob Burns acknowledged it took a significant effort by Republicans and Democrats to pass all six special session budget bills out of his chamber, even though he wouldn’t “put it in the fiscally responsible plan category.”